Urgent Action Requested: Oppose to H.R. 9495
On Thursday, November 21st, the United States House of Representatives voted to pass House Resolution 9495 (HR 9495), and it is now headed to the US Senate for a confirmation vote.
This bill threatens nonprofits by allowing the government to label any nonprofit as a “terrorist supporting organization” without due process. This could lead to the loss of tax-exempt status for many organizations, putting vital community services at risk.
Call California’s Senators now and tell them you reject H.R. 9495, and you urge them to do everything they can to oppose this legislation passing in the Senate. See contact information below.
Not sure what to say? Use the template below as a guide:
“Hi, my name is ____ and I am a constituent. I’m calling to let Senator _____ know that I oppose H.R. 9495, legislation that the House of Representatives just passed. I urge the Senator to do everything in their power to oppose this legislation in the Senate. The bill is undemocratic and allows the Treasury secretary to strip nonprofit organizations of their tax-exempt status without true due process. It aims to stifle dissent and free speech, key tenants of our democracy and freedoms. Thank you.”
Don’t forget to make it your own. Let senators know how this will impact your organization.
Contact your California US Senator
| US Senator: Alejandro “Alex” Padilla | – Write a message – Leave a voicemail at (202) 224-3553 |
| US Senator: Laphonza Butler | – Write a message – Leave a voicemail at (202) 224-3841 |
Take action!
There are a few more actions you can take against H.R. 9495:
- Thank representatives in the Inland Empire who voted against H.R. 9495 by sending a letter of appreciation (see link below).
- Show your disapproval to these elected officials who voted for H.R. 9495 by reminding them why nonprofit voices matter by sending a letter of disapproval (see link below).
- See how your local representative voted on H.R. 9495 and contact them to share either concerns or praise based on their vote. Find contacts here.
| Voted Against of HR 9495 – Thank you! | Voted in Favor of HR 9495 |
| – Raul Ruiz (CA-25) – Judy Chu (CA-28) – Pete Aguilar (CA-33) – Mark Takano (CA-39) | – Darrell Issa (CA-48) – Ken Calvert (CA-41) – Young Kim (CA-40) – Norma Torres (CA-35) – Jay Obernolte (CA-23) |
| Letter of Appreciation Template | Letter of Disapproval Template |
More about H.R. 9495
H.R. 9495 would grant the Secretary of the Treasury the power to designate section 501(c) nonprofits as “terrorist supporting organizations” without requiring the Secretary to share their full evidence or reasoning. This lack of transparency and due process means that nonprofits would have only 90 days to prove their innocence, a nearly impossible task for many organizations. The bill’s broad and unchecked authority could be misused, leading to politically motivated accusations and undermining the essential work that nonprofits do in our communities.
Of the representatives who voted in favor of H.R. 9495, 5 of them were from the Inland Empire. Nonprofits have an undeniable impact in shaping policy outcomes. While the Senate is not expected to pass this bill, we must stay vigilant in protecting nonprofits and the communities we serve. Elements of this legislation will likely resurface in 2025, making it essential to continue our efforts now to safeguard the nonprofit sector and its critical work.
Thank you for your support.
